I think the BA ad ties in with their need for 800 pilots over the next 4 years!
Would hate to be at the bottom of that seniority list in a few years time.
Is it a case of a 'quality' pilot shortage with pilots from other carriers not matching up to the stringent requirements of these leading airlines in the numbers required?
Not really. You don't have to be 'quality' to get into BA, you just have to be good enough on the day. The proof being that I know people who passed BA after their 4th attempt!
And I also know people who passed at their first attempt but into the hold pool which sadly for them, expired. So they were made to do it all again and many of these people failed second time around.
Silly process really.